In Situ Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles from Chitin Nanogels and Their Drug Release Response to Stimulation

In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized in situ using chitin nanogels (CNGs) as templates to prepare composites (CNGs@AuNPs) with good photothermal properties, wherein their drug release properties in response to stimulation by near-infrared (NIR) light were investigated. AuNPs with particle sizes ranging from 2.5 nm to 90 nm were prepared by varying the reaction temperature and chloroauric acid concentration. The photothermal effect of different materials was probed by near-infrared light. Under 1 mg/mL of chloroauric acid at 120 °C, the prepared CNGs@AuNPs could increase the temperature by 32 °C within 10 min at a power of 2 W/cm